Variable mulching system for a lawnmower

ABSTRACT

A lawnmower is convertible between a bagging mode and a mulching mode. The convertible lawnmower includes a cutter housing having a discharge opening, an engine mount centrally positioned on the cutter housing, a prime mover supported on the engine mount, a rotary mulching blade coupled to the prime mover to rotate in a cutting plane about a rotation axis within the cutter housing, a cover and a fin extending from the cover toward the cutting plane. The cover is movably mounted within the cutter housing in a plane parallel to the cutting plane and between a full bagging position where the discharge opening is unobstructed by the cover and a full mulching position where the cover obstructs the discharge opening.

This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No.10/152,773 filed May 23, 2002 now abandoned, the disclosure isincorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Lawnmowers can be configured as garden tractors, riding mowers,commercial walk-behind mowers and smaller walk-behind mowers. Smallerwalk-behind mowers include a prime mover mounted to the deck. Mowerdecks associated with garden tractors, riding mowers and commercialwalk-behind mowers are removably attached to the frame of theseself-propelled machines in a manner that allows the deck to float alongthe contour of the terrain above an adjustable minimum height. Thesefloating decks rely on a power take-off connected to the prime moverused to propel these self-propelled machines and, therefore, do notinclude a prime mover. More than one blade can be mounted in the cuttingchamber of the deck for any of these embodiments of a lawnmower.

Lawnmowers can also be configured to either mulch the clippings or todischarge the clippings through a discharge chute. Mulching mowers cutthe clippings into fine particles and blow the clippings below the lawnsurface. Discharge mowers either discharge the clippings directly ontothe lawn surface or into a bag for disposal elsewhere. Some lawnmowerscan be converted between mulching lawnmowers and discharge lawnmowers byinserting or removing separate elements within the cutter housing and/orthe discharge chute.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

There is provided a lawnmower convertible between a bagging mode and amulching mode. The convertible lawnmower includes a cutter housinghaving a discharge opening, an engine mount centrally positioned on thecutter housing, a prime mover supported on the engine mount, a rotarymulching blade coupled to the prime mover to rotate in a cutting planeabout a rotation axis within the cutter housing, a cover and a finextending from the cover toward the cutting plane. The cover is movablymounted within the cutter housing in a plane parallel to the cuttingplane and between a full bagging position where the discharge opening isunobstructed by the cover and a fill mulching position where the coverobstructs the discharge opening.

There is also provided a lawnmower convertible between a bagging modeand a mulching mode. The convertible lawnmower includes a cutter housinghaving a discharge opening, an engine mount centrally positioned on thecutter housing, a prime mover supported on the engine mount, a rotarymulching blade coupled to the prime mover to rotate in a blade circleabout a rotation axis within the cutter housing, a cover, a finextending from the cover toward the blade circle, and a handle. Thecover is movably mounted within the cutter housing in a plane parallelto the blade circle and between a full bagging position where thedischarge opening is unobstructed by the cover, a full mulching positionwhere the cover obstructs the discharge opening and at least oneposition intermediate the full bagging position and the fill mulchingposition where the cover partially obstructs the discharge opening. Thehandle is connected to the cover and extends external to the cutterhousing. The handle is displaceable between a first position, a secondposition and at least one position intermediate the first position andthe second position such that displacement of the handle between each ofthe first position, the second position and the at least oneintermediate position of the handle moves the cover between each of thefull bagging position, the full mulching position and the at least oneintermediate position of the cover, respectively.

There is yet also provided a lawnmower convertible between a baggingmode and a mulching mode. The convertible lawnmower includes a cutterhousing having a discharge opening, an engine mount on the cutterhousing, a prime mover supported on the engine mount, a mulching bladecoupled to the prime mover to rotate within the cutter housing, a cover,a rotary knob operatively connected to the cover and indicia adjacentthe rotary knob. The cover slides within the cutter housing between afull bagging position where the discharge opening is substantiallyunobstructed by the cover and a full mulching position where the coversubstantially obstructs the discharge opening. The indicia indicate theoperational state of the cover based on the position of the rotary knobrelative to the indicia.

There is further provided a lawnmower convertible between a bagging modeand a mulching mode. The convertible lawnmower includes a cutter housinghaving a discharge opening, a rotary mulching blade mounted to rotate ina cutting plane about a rotation axis within the cutter housing, and acover pivotable within the cutter housing. The cover projects an areaonto the cutting plane at a location where the cover overlaps thecutting plane. The projected area changes in size as the cover movesbetween a full bagging position where the discharge opening isunobstructed by the cover and a full mulching position where the coverobstructs the discharge opening.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein and constitutepart of this specification, illustrate an embodiment of the invention,and, together with the general description given above and the detaileddescription given below, serve to explain the features of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a lawnmower according to the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the lawnmower according to FIG. 1 including alawnmower accessory in one of a plurality of positions according to thepresent invention.

FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of the bottom of the lawnmowerincluding a lawnmower accessory according to FIG. 2 in a plurality ofpositions.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a cutter housing of the lawnmower ofFIG. 2 taken along IV—IV.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the top of a lawnmower accessory of thelawnmower according to FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is an exploded view of the lawnmower accessory according to FIG.2.

FIG. 7 is front perspective view of the top of the lawnmower deckaccording to FIG. 4.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the top of the lawnmower deck accordingto FIG. 6 with the deck cover removed to show the actuationtransmission.

FIG. 9 is a rear perspective view of the bottom of a ramp according toFIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIG. 1, a lawnmower 10 includes a deck 12, wheels 14, aprime mover 16 (e.g., an internal combustion engine or an electricmotor) mounted to the deck 12, a blade 18 (see FIG. 2) connected to theprime mover 16 below the deck 12, a steering handle 20 connected to andextending upwardly from the deck 12 and a collection bag 22.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the deck 12 includes a cutter housing 24having a discharge opening 26 and an engine mount 28 centrallypositioned on the cutter housing 24. As shown in FIG. 1, the prime mover16 is supported on the engine mount 28 and the collection bag 22 can beconnected to the cutter housing 24 by way of the discharge opening 26 tocollect the clippings for disposal away from the lawn.

FIG. 2 shows the blade 18 coupled to the prime mover 16 to rotate withinthe cutter housing 24. Preferably, the blade 16 is a mulching bladeconfigured as either a single cutting element or as multiple cuttingelements. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, the blade 16 rotates about arotation axis R in a blade circle B lying in a cutting plane. Thevegetation is cut at the level of the cutting plane and circulatesadjacent the roof 30 of the cutter housing 24 along a circulation path Cuntil a saturation amount of circulating clippings is reached. Uponreaching the saturation level, the circulating clippings begin to fallback down across the blade 18 where they are cut again and blown intothe lawn below the level of the cutting plane.

FIGS. 2–4 show a lawnmower accessory configured as a cover 32 that moveswithin the cutter housing 24 between a first position (FIG. 3) and asecond position (FIG. 2). The cover 32 is pivotally mounted within thecutter housing 24 in a plane parallel to the blade circle B (FIG. 4)between the first position and the second position.

The first position can be a full bagging position where the dischargeopening 26 is substantially unobstructed by the cover 32 and the secondposition can be a full mulching position where the cover 32substantially obstructs the discharge opening 26. Additionally, thecover 32 can pivot to at least one position intermediate the firstposition and the second position (intermediate position shown in phantomin FIG. 3). Preferably, the cutter housing 24 is annular and the cover32 extends along a sector of the cutter housing 24, as shown in FIG. 2.

The cover 32 projects an area A onto the cutting plane where the cover32 overlaps the cutting plane. Preferably, as shown in FIG. 5, the cover32 overlaps the cutting plane within the perimeter of the blade circle Band the projected area A lies within the blade circle B. Alternatively,the location and/or size of any combination of the discharge opening 26,the cover 32 and the cutter housing 24 can be changed from thatillustrated in FIGS. 1–6 such that the projected area A can liepartially or completely outside of the blade circle B.

Under adverse mowing conditions, such as wet vegetation, tall vegetationor thick vegetation, the clippings can clog the discharge opening 26before the collection bag 22 is full or cause clumping even whenmulching the clippings. Also, when such mowing conditions exist when thelawnmower is in the full mulching mode, the amount of clippingscirculating in the cutter housing 24 can overwhelm the prime mover 16and cause it to stall. These results can require repeated stopping andstarting of the lawnmower 10, which, in turn, can extend the timenecessary to mow the lawn.

By regulating the position of the cover 32 in response to the cuttingconditions, the operator can control the amount of grass being collectedand mulched at any given time so that clogging, clumping and stalling ofthe prime mover 16 can be minimized during these adverse mowingconditions. With the cover 32 in the full mulching position, theoperator can translate the cover 32 toward the full bagging position ifthe clippings begin to clump until enough of the clippings pass throughthe discharge opening 26 and into the collection bag 22 to stop theclumping. Conversely, with the cover 32 in the full bagging position,the operator can continue to mow when the access to the collection bag22 becomes clogged with clippings by positioning the cover 32 in anyposition other than the full bagging position so that at least some ofthe clippings are mulched. Positioning the cover 32 in any one of theintermediate positions minimizes unwanted clumping or stalling of theprime mover 16 because some of the clippings escape the cutter housing24 through the discharge opening 26 and are collected in the collectionbag 22 while the remainder get mulched.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, a fin 34 connects to and extends from thecover 32 toward the blade circle B intermediate the discharge opening 26and blade circle B. The fin 34 includes a first end 36 adjacent to apivot 38 and a second end 40 including a slot 42 extending toward thefirst end 36 of the fin 34. The fin 34 extends arcuately from the firstend 36 to the second end 40 in a direction substantially parallel to theblade circle B.

As viewed in FIGS. 2 and 4, the cover 32 includes a plurality ofshutters 44, 46, 48 extending substantially parallel to the blade circleB. The shutters 44, 46, 48 are stacked in a direction parallel to therotation axis and slide laterally relative to one another. Each of theshutters 44, 46, 48 includes a first end and a second end. The pivot 38connects the first ends of the shutters to the cutter housing 24.

As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 4, a support 50 is spaced from and securedto the cutter housing. The second ends of the shutters 44, 46, 48 slidealong the support 50 between a collapsed position where the shutters 44,46, 48 overlie one another, at least one intermediate position(intermediate position in phantom in FIG. 3) where the shutters 44, 46,48 partially overlap one another, and an extended position (FIG. 2)where the shutters 44, 46, 48 extend laterally from one another. Thecollapsed position corresponds to the full bagging position of the cover32, the extended position corresponds to the full mulching position ofthe cover 32 and the intermediate positions correspond to theintermediate positions of the cover 32. FIG. 4 shows the second end ofeach of the shutters 44, 46, 48 extending into the space 52 between thesupport 50 and the cutter housing 24. The support 50 extends into theslot 42 in the fin 34. As shown in FIG. 5, the fin 34 extends from oneof the shutters 48 toward the blade circle B.

Referring to FIGS. 2, 3 and 5, the shutters 44, 46, 48 provide a surfaceof the cover 32 that extends approximately parallel to the cuttingplane. The area of this cover surface changes between a minimum when theshutters 44, 46, 48 are in the collapsed position and a maximum when theshutters 44, 46, 48 are in the expanded position. FIGS. 2 and 5illustrate the maximum size of the area of the cover surface.

The projected area A changes in size as the cover 32 moves between thefull bagging position and the full mulching position. The size of theprojected area A of FIG. 5 is variable and proportional to the size ofthe area of the cover surface. The projected area A varies between aminimum size when the shutters 44, 46, 48 are in the collapsed positionand a maximum size greater than the minimum size when the shutters 44,46, 48 are in the extended position. FIG. 5 illustrates the projectedarea A having the maximum size. The minimum size of the area A could beapproximately less than or equal to the area of one 48 of the shutters44, 46, 48. Preferably, the projected area A is at most approximatelyequal to the area of the cover surface at each position of the cover 32between the full bagging position and the full mulching position.

Referring to FIG. 3, the cutter housing 24 includes an inner scroll 54centered about the engine mount 28 and an outer scroll 56 centered aboutthe inner scroll 54. The discharge opening 26 is in the outer scroll 56.The inner scroll 54 includes a recess (not shown) aligned- with the fin34 and the one shutter 48. The recess receives the fin 34 and the oneshutter 48 when the one shutter 48 is the collapsed position. Thesupport 50 spans from the outer scroll 56 to the inner scroll 54.

The first end 36 of the fin 34 is adjacent the junction of the roof 30and the outer scroll 56. The second end 40 of the fin 34 is movablebetween a first position adjacent the inner scroll 54 when the shutters44, 46, 48 are in the collapsed position, a second position adjacent theouter scroll 56 when the shutters 44, 46, 48 are in the extendedposition, and at least one position intermediate the first position andthe second position when the shutters 44, 46, 48 are in the intermediateposition. The first position corresponds to the full bagging position ofthe cover 32, the second position corresponds to the full mulchingposition of the cover 32 and the intermediate positions correspond tothe intermediate positions of the cover 32.

Referring to FIG. 2, the shutters 44, 46, 48 include a first shutter 44,a second shutter 46 and a third shutter 48. The fin 34 extends from thethird shutter 48. As explained below, each the three shutters 44, 46, 48sequentially overlap one another as the cover moves from the fullmulching position to the full bagging position.

The first shutter 44 includes a first end connected to the roof 30adjacent the outer scroll 56 and a second end adjacent the inner scroll54. The second shutter 46 is movable relative to the first shutter 44and includes a first end connected to the roof 30 adjacent the outerscroll 56 and a second end. Referring to FIG. 6, a first abutment 58 anda second abutment 60 are adjacent the second end of the second shutter46. The third shutter 48 is movable relative to the second shutter 46and includes a first end connected to the roof 30 adjacent the outerscroll 56 and a second end. A third abutment 62 is adjacent the secondend of the third shutter 48. The third abutment 62 engages the firstabutment 58 when the cover 32 moves toward the full mulching positionand the third abutment 62 engages the second abutment 58 when the cover32 moves toward the full bagging position. Preferably, the firstabutment 58 and second abutment 60 are opposite ends of a slot and thethird abutment 62 is a projection sidably received in the slot. However,other lost motion arrangements can be used as long as the shutters 44,46 and 48 can interact with each other to expand and collapse as thecover moves between the full mulching position and the full baggingposition.

Referring to FIG. 7, a handle 64 is connected to the cover 32 andextends external to the cutter housing 24. The handle 64 is displaceablebetween a first position, a second position and at least one positionintermediate the first position and the second position. Displacement ofthe handle 64 between each of the first position, the second positionand the at least one intermediate position of the handle 64 moves thecover 32 between each of the full bagging position, the full mulchingposition and the at least one intermediate position of the cover 32,respectively.

Preferably, the handle 64 is a rotary knob operatively connected to thecover 32. Indicia 66 adjacent the rotary knob 64 indicate theoperational state of the cover 32 based on the position of the rotaryknob 64 relative to the indicia 66. The rotary knob 64 includes acircular base 68 and an elongated grip 70 extending from the circularbase 66. The width of the elongated grip 70 is less than one-half of thediameter of the circular base 66.

FIG. 8 shows the deck 12 with the deck cover 72 removed to expose anactuation transmission 74 that connects the rotary knob 64 to the cover32. The actuation transmission 74 has a first end connected to therotary knob 64 and a second end connected to the cover 32. The actuationtransmission 74 can be a gear assembly that includes a first gear 76connected to the rotary knob 64 by a shaft 78. A second gear 80 at thesecond end of the actuation transmission 74 is connected to the pivot 38and engages the first gear 76. The first gear 76 engages the second gear80 such that rotary movement of the rotary knob 64 results in movementof the cover 32 and the fin 34 about the pivot 38 between each of thefull bagging position, the at least one intermediate position and thefull mulching position. Preferably, the gear ratio of the first gear 76and the second gear 80 can be set to provide an angular displacement ofthe cover 32 that is less than the angular displacement of the rotaryknob 64. The positions of the cover 32 and the fin 34 are infinitelyvariable between each of the fill bagging position, the at least oneintermediate position and the full mulching position due to theinteraction of the gears 76, 80.

If a reduction in the displacement of the cover 32 relative to the knobis not desired, then the gears 76, 80 can be eliminated to directlyconnect the rotary knob 64 to the pivot 38 through the shaft 78.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 9, a ramp 82 is mounted to the roof 30 of thecutter housing 24 near the cover 32. As will be discussed below, theramp 82 cooperates with the cover 32 to divert the clippings in thecirculation path C into the discharge opening 26 when the cover 32 is inany position other than the full mulching position.

The ramp 82 includes a leading edge 84 adjacent the roof 30 and atrailing edge 86 spaced from the roof 30 by a rear face 90 to lieapproximately co-planar with the shutters 44, 46, 48. The trailing edge86 is positioned proximate the cover 32. The rear face 90 extends fromthe trailing edge 86 to the roof 30 and conforms to the interior profileof the cutter housing 24. The ramp 82 also includes an inner flange 92and an outer flange 94 that extend along and conform to the inner scroll54 and the outer scroll 56, respectively.

The ramp 82 can be secured to the roof 30 of the cutter housing 24 bymounting bosses 88 adapted to receive fasteners, such as self-tappingscrews (not shown). Alternatively, the ramp 82 can be integrally formedin the roof 30 of the cutter housing 24.

The trailing edge 86 is located approximately co-planar with theshutters 44, 46, 48 so that the clippings can be diverted from the roof30 toward the blade 18 to a level at least even with the shutters 44,46, 48. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, preferably, the support 50 isprovided by the ramp 82 adjacent to the trailing edge 86.

The ramp 82 reduces the potential for the circulating clippings to clumponto the cover 32 by diverting the most of the circulating clippings tostrike the cover 32 at an acute angle relative to the surface of cover32 and at least softens the impact of the clippings onto the cover 32.Clumping on the fin 34—and/or other portions of the cover 32 canobstruct the circulation path C and reduce the efficiency at which theclippings are bagged and/or mulched.

The ramp 82 can also extend the area of the lawn over which thelawnmower 10 traverses while mowing before the bag 22 requires emptyingwhen the cover 32 is in any position other than the full mulchingposition. The ramp 82 could divert a portion of the clippings across theblade 18 so that they are mulched by the blade 18 and blown into thelawn. Thus, the amount of clippings collected in the bag 22 can bereduced. Although the ramp 82 is not necessary for effective operationof the cover 32, the ramp 82 can enhance the performance offered by thecover 32.

Although the preferred embodiments of the invention illustrate a smallwalk-behind lawnmower, the invention is also intended for use oncommercial walk-behind mowers, riding mowers and lawn tractors.

While the present invention has been disclosed with reference to certainembodiments, numerous modifications, alterations and changes to thedescribed embodiments are possible without departing from the sphere andscope of the present invention, as defined in the appended claims.Accordingly, it is intended that the present invention not be limited tothe described embodiments, but that it has the full scope defined by thelanguage of the following claims, and equivalents thereof.

1. A lawnmower convertible between a bagging mode and a mulching mode,the convertible lawnmower comprising: a cutter housing having adischarge opening; a prime mover supported by the cutter housing; arotary mulching blade coupled to the prime mover to rotate within ablade circle perimeter about a rotation axis within the cutter housing;a cover mounted within the cutter housing above and within the bladecircle perimeter wherein the cover, while remaining mounted within thecutter housing, is movable between a full bagging position where thedischarge opening is unobstructed by the cover and a full mulchingposition where the cover obstructs the discharge opening; a finextending from the cover toward the blade circle; and a handle connectedto the cover and extending external to the cutter housing, the handlebeing displaceable between a first position and a second position suchthat displacement of the handle between the first position and thesecond position moves the cover between the full bagging position andthe full mulching position, respectively.
 2. The convertible lawnmoweraccording to claim 1, wherein the handle is adapted to selectivelyposition the cover and the fin in one of an infinite number of positionsbetween the full bagging position and the full mulching position.
 3. Theconvertible lawnmower according to claim 1, further comprising: a firstgear connected to the handle; and a second gear connected to the coverand engaging the first gear.
 4. The convertible lawnmower according toclaim 1 wherein the cover is also movable in a position intermediate thefull bagging position and the full mulching position and the handle isalso displaceable in a position intermediate the first position and thesecond position.
 5. A Lawnmower convertible between a bagging mode and amulching mode, the convertible lawnmower comprising: a cutter housinghaving a discharge opening; an engine mount centrally positioned on thecutter housing; a prime mover supported on the engine mount; a rotarymulching blade coupled to the prime mover to rotate in a blade circleabout a rotation axis within the cutter housing; a cover movably mountedwithin the cutter housing in a plane parallel to the blade circle andbetween a full bagging position where the discharge opening isunobstructed by the cover and a full mulching position where the coverobstructs the discharge opening and at least one position intermediatethe full bagging position and the full mulching position where the coverpartially obstructs the discharge opening; a fin extending from thecover toward the blade circle; a handle connected to the cover andextending external to the dutter housing, the handle being displaceablebetween a first position, a second position and at least one positionintermediate the first position and the second position such thatdisplacement of the handle between each of the first position, thesecond position and the at least one intermediate position of the handlemoves the cover between each of the full bagging position, the fullmulching position and the at least one intermediate position of thecover, respectively; a first gear connected to the handle; and a secondgear connected to the cover and engaging the first gear.
 6. A lawnmowerconvertible between a bagging mode and a mulching mode, the convertiblelawnmower comprising: a cutter housing having a discharge opening; aprime mover supported by the cutter housing; a rotary mulching bladecoupled to the prime mover to rotate in a blade circle about a rotationaxis within the cutter housing; a cover mounted within the cutterhousing above the blade circle and movable between a full baggingposition where the discharge opening is unobstructed by the cover and afull mulching position where the cover obstructs the discharge opening;a fin extending from the cover toward the blade circle; a handleconnected to the cover and extending external to the cutter housing, thehandle being displaceable between a first position and a second positionsuch that displacement of the handle between the first position and thesecond position moves the cover between the full bagging position andthe full mulching position, respectively; a first gear connected to thehandle; and a second gear connected to the cover and engaging the firstgear.
 7. A lawnmower convertible between a bagging mode and a mulchingmode, the convertible lawnmower comprising: a cutter housing having adischarge opening; a prime mover supported by the cutter housing; arotary mulching blade coupled to the prime mover to rotate in a bladecircle about a rotation axis within the cutter housing; a cover mountedwithin the cutter housing above the blade circle wherein the cover,while remaining mounted within the cutter housing, is movable within thehousing between a full bagging position where the discharge opening isunobstructed by the cover and a full mulching position where the coverobstructs the discharge opening; a fin extending from the cover towardthe blade circle; and a handle connected to the cover and extendingexternal to the cutter housing, the handle being displaceable between afirst position and a second position such that displacement of thehandle between the first position and the second position moves thecover within the housing between the full bagging position and the fullmulching position, respectively.
 8. A lawnmower convertible between abagging mode and a mulching mode, the convertible lawnmower comprising:a cutter housing having a discharge opening; a prime mover supported bythe cutter housing; a rotary mulching blade coupled to the prime moverto rotate within a blade circle perimeter about a rotation axis withinthe cutter housing; a cover mounted within the cutter housing above andwithin the blade circle perimeter and movable between a full baggingposition where the discharge opening is unobstructed by the cover and afull mulching position where the cover obstructs the discharge opening;a fin extending from the cover toward the blade circle; a handleconnected to the cover and extending external to the cutter housing, thehandle being displaceable between a first position and a second positionsuch that displacement of the handle between the first position and thesecond position moves the cover between the full bagging position andthe full mulching position, respectively; a first gear connected to thehandle; and a second gear connected to the cover and engaging the firstgear.
 9. A lawnmower convertible between a bagging mode and a mulchingmode, the convertible lawnmower comprising: a cutter housing having adischarge opening; a prime mover supported by the cutter housing; arotary mulching blade coupled to the prime mover to rotate within ablade circle perimeter about a rotation axis within the cutter housing;a cover mounted within the cutter housing above and entirely within theblade circle perimeter and movable between a full bagging position wherethe discharge opening is unobstructed by the cover and a full mulchingposition where the cover obstructs the discharge opening; a finextending from the cover toward the blade circle; and a handle connectedto the cover and extending external to the cutter housing, the handlebeing displaceable between a first position and a second position suchthat displacement of the handle between the first position and thesecond position moves the cover between the full bagging position andthe full mulching position, respectively.